As we transitioned from the Eighties to the Nineties, Yeovil’s nightlife offered a plethora of choices for the discerning drinker and club enthusiast.
In those days, it seemed that options in the Somerset town were scarce, but fast forward 25 years or more and you realise that Friday and Saturday nights were a treat.
There is currently a lot of mourning over the demise of pubs as we once knew them, so I’ve decided to revisit those notorious early nineties nights out.
The question remains, how many establishments are still standing when embarking on ‘My Big Fat 90s pub crawl’ around Yeovil?
Somerset Inn
Being from the Mudford Road area of town, a big night always started with the long walk down the hill towards the college roundabout. It wasn’t a regular stop-off on a Friday night as the Somerset Inn was always more for the discerning drinker.
Good for a sharpener though, as handily placed at the end of Preston Road. Sadly, it is no more and has been replaced by a block of flats.
What used to be The Somerset Inn
(Image: James Brinsford)
Duke of York
Another ‘take it or leave it’ break-off on the way into town. Duke of York on Kingston had been in decline since the end of its Buddy’s era but a pint of Toby was less than a quid, so good enough to put a smile on your face.
It eventually became the Conservative Club in 1993 and taken off the menu for pub crawls.
The Armoury
Still standing and as popular as ever. The Armoury used to serve two purposes on this pub crawl, an entry point to town and a place to go if the queue to The Gardens nightclub was too long.
The Armoury is still going strong
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Mermaid
One of the oldest pubs in Yeovil was hugely popular at the beginning of the 90s. The jukebox seemed to have The Power by Snap and Hear the drummer, get wicked on repeat but it was always lively and got you in the mood for a good night. Sadly though it closed in 2019
The Mermaid had some top tunes on their jukebox
(Image: James Brinsford)
Hole in the Wall
Cramped for space and a drinkers pub, this was one of the more aptly named establishments in the area.
It is fair to say that decor was not high on the agenda back then. Nowadays, it is the highly acclaimed restaurant, The Green Room.
The Green Room was once the Hole in the Wall
(Image: James Brinsford)
Wine Vaults
The Vaults was usually the centre of all drinking shenanigans and the meeting point for many revellers. For a while, it was THE place to be and was rarely less than full. Tastes changed over the decade and it the place went into decline before closing.
It is now a café and delicatessen that is full of memories of Saturday nights past.
The Wine Vaults was a staple of a 90s night out
(Image: James Brinsford)
Kings Arms
Time spent in the Kings Arms was always eventful. A place where standards were left at the door and lad culture was prevelant. Not somewhere that you went for a quiet pint.
The place is still bringing the noise nowadays but as a home entertainment shop, rather than a raucous pub.
Kings Arms had a burgeoning reputation
(Image: James Brinsford)
Pall Tavern
There was a time that the Pall was considered to be a ‘bikers pub’ and a place where heavy metal, long hair and leather jackets were the norm.
Always a good atmosphere, though getting to the bar at weekends could prove almost impossible. Sadly, it closed down in 2023.
The Pall Tavern is one of the few pubs that has lasted the course
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Globe & Crown
Before its transformation in Globetrotters, The Globe & Crown was a ‘spit and sawdust’ kind of place that was the perfect place for a last pint before heading into Dukes nightclub across the road. Another pub though which has bitten the dust
The Globe & Crown spent some time as Globetrotters
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Greyhound
Over a couple of years at the beginning of the 90s, the Greyhound went through a transformation from an old man’s boozer to a dancing on the table and window sills party pub. It then closed and is now a hotel.
The Greyhound became a party pub before its closure
(Image: James Brinsford)
Porter Blacks
In 1995, Carpetland in the Triangle became an Irish themed pub called Porter Blacks and there were Guinness fuelled celebrations every weekend.
It didn’t really enjoy the luck of the Irish though and only made it a short way into the millennium.
Porter Blacks brought a touch of the Irish to Yeovil
Stars Lane
There was good food and cold beers at Stars Lane and was often thought as one of the ‘classier’ joints of the 90s night out. Over time, it tried to become more like a nightclub and the appeal wore off.
Maybe there is a hope that karma will save this bar, so that is what the owners have now called it. And it is still open today
Stars Lane was a fine eaterie as well, back in the day
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Three Choughs
One of the few places that had a pool table which had plenty of room around it and there was no need to squeeze yourself up against a wall to play a shot.
It felt like a hotel bar and was always somewhere to go if nothing else to do.
Formerly The Three Choughs
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Butcher’s Arms
This is where the serious drinkers went. Not really the domain of spotty teenagers and always a thick fog of smoke to breathe in, if you wanted to give the beer a go.
Nowadays, it is a respected real ale house and the perfect antidote to the identikit chain pubs that dominate the area.
The Butchers Arms is a real ale treat
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Studios
The big decision on a Friday night was Studios or Gardens? These two nightclubs went through phases as being the place to be after the pubs closed and there was a time when the one in, one out policy could see you queuing for an hour or more to get in.
Now, it is retirement apartments, which seems a rather apt symbol of Yeovil’s nightlife nowadays.
This retirement block was once The Studios nightclub
(Image: James Brinsford)
The Gardens
If fake plastic palm trees was your idea of tropical exotica, then The Gardens was the place to go. There was even a restaurant part where you could sit and eat steak while watching a room of people throw shapes to Vanilla Ice.
Nowadays, it is luxury apartments after the club was demolished.
The Gardens was once Yeovil’s premier nightspot
(Image: James Brinsford)
Dukes
At the beginning of the 90s, Dukes seemed to be the poor cousin in the Yeovil nightclub trilogy. Basically, if the queues were too long for the other two, then Dukes would do.
Dukes nightclub is now a shadow of its former self
(Image: James Brinsford)
At least you knew you could get served at the bar reasonably quickly.
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